Fabio Wardley produced a dramatic knockout win over Justis Huni at Portman Road.

The hometown hero went into the contest as the favourite to secure the interim WBA heavyweight title and put himself at the front of the queue for a shot at the WBA belt.

But Wardley looked in deep trouble against Australian Huni, a late replacement for intended opponent Jarrell Miller, who pulled out with a shoulder injury at the end of April.

Heading into the 10th round, Wardley appeared to be well behind on the scorecards and did not seem to have much left but he landed a right hand on the chin of Huni, who was sent to the canvas and counted out.

It was an 18th knockout of 19 wins for 30-year-old Wardley, who remains unbeaten.

He landed a strong shot on Huni, who had won all of his previous 12 fights, at the end of the first round, but by the third round the Australian had begun to take control.

More blows rocked Wardley in the fourth round and by the seventh he was bleeding from the mouth, the speed of Huni causing him all sorts of problems.

The crowd had been quietened with Wardley apparently on the verge of defeat but the atmosphere changed in an instant as he found the perfect response.

Wardley could now be in line for a clash with WBA champion Oleksandr Usyk, who will fight Briton’s Daniel Dubois at Wembley next month.

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